IS THIS the new normal for cities unhappy with the Mobile County Public School System? If cities can afford it, will they leave "home" and strike out on their own?

The cities of Satsuma and Chickasaw have officially declared their intentions to separate from the state’s largest school system, following the lead of Saraland in 2008. On the advice of the same consultant, they are pushing for separate tax increases to fund their efforts.

The two cities have cited a variety of reasons to leave. But now it’s incumbent upon the Mobile County Public School System to give residents some reasons to stay.

Why not ramp up the dialogue out in the community about the kind of quality education that’s possible within the existing system? For instance, what do residents in Satsuma and Chickasaw really want? Local control? Schools in their neighborhoods? More choices about districts?

This discussion is important and timely — if not for Satsuma and Chickasaw, then for other municipalities in the county who are watching the drama unfold.

Indeed, old wounds have not healed since Satsuma and Chickasaw first discussed teaming up with Saraland in a new, three-city school system in 2003. Saraland was the only one to go forward.

Since that time, though, decisions by the school board seem to have further alienated Satsuma and Chickasaw. For instance, when deciding to build a new middle school, Mobile County chose a site north of Satsuma so that, if Satsuma decided to split, it could not take the new school with it, as state law allows.

Unfortunately, that decision seemed to seal the deal. The location of the new school, 12 miles north of Satsuma, has re-emerged as a reason for why residents are so unhappy.

Meanwhile, the county also frustrated Chickasaw residents when it moved Clark magnet school to the former Shaw High in west Mobile and brought in an alternative school. Residents have little enthusiasm for Chastang Middle in Mobile and Vigor and Blount high schools in Prichard, where Chickasaw students are zoned. If Satsuma breaks away, even more will be zoned for Vigor and Blount.

You could also hear frustration from Mobile Superintendent Roy Nichols as discussions with the cities intensified in March. "They want to be treated better than the other schools in the system," he said. "We can’t do special favors for certain parts of the county."

Should cities threaten to split from the county any time they want a new roof or a new stadium? Of course not. But neither is it enough to shrug and say that there’s nothing the county can do under the law to keep them in the fold.

It’s time for Mobile County to do more than wish unhappy cities well as they bail out of the system, one after another.